Spoiler-jack for vehicle toy

ABSTRACT

A spoiler-jack is swingably connected to a vehicle for elevating at least a portion of the vehicle when the spoiler-jack is swung to a first position and for simulating a spoiler on a racing vehicle when the spoiler-jack is swung 180* to a second position.

United States Patent 1 Oct. 28, 1975 Ferguson SPOILER-JACK FOR VEHICLETOY 2,941,330 6/1960 Birdsall 1 46/204 x 3,757,459 9/1973 Buck et al v v1 46/202 [75] Edward Fergumn, Torrance 3,844,557 10/1974 Pompetti 46/202Callf.

[73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif. Primary Examiner-RussellR. Kinsey Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever [22] Filed Nov. 1974 Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Max E. Shirk; Stephen L [2!] App]. No.: 526,553 King [52]US. Cl. 46/202; 46/222 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A63 11/10 A Spollerack 1s swmgably connected to a vehicle for [58] Field Search46/202 2' elevating at least a portion of the vehicle when the 6/ Oispoiler-jack is swung to a first position and for simulating a spoileron a racing vehicle when the spoiler-jack [56] References cued is swung180 to a second position.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Dubitsky ll/l958 46/201 X 4 Claims, 4 DrawingFigures SPOILER-JACK FOR VEHICLE TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thebackground of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to thefield of vehicle toys and more particularly to a new and usefulspoilerjack for a vehicle toy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Vehicle toys having spoilers providedthereon are known. The present invention exemplifies improvements overvehicle toys of this type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a new and useful vehicle toy.

it is another object of the present invention to provide a new anduseful spoiler-jack for a vehicle toy.

According to the present invention, a vehicle toy is provided with aspoiler-jack which is swingably connected to the vehicle for elevatingat least a portion of the vehicle when the spoiler-jack is swung to afirst position. The spoiler-jack is shaped to simulate a spoiler on aracing vehicle when the spoiler-jack is swung 180 to a second position.

The spoiler-jack includes a pair of arms each having a first endpivotally connected to the vehicle and a free end. Airfoil means isaffixed to the free ends approximately normal to the arm for simulatingthe spoiler on a racing vehicle when the spoiler-jack is in the secondposition and for engaging a vehicle-supporting surface when thespoiler-jack is in the first position.

The airfoil means includes a substantially horizontal airfoil havingends extending beyond the arms and a vertical airfoil plate affixed toeach end of the horizontal airfoil.

The spoiler-jack is swingably connected to the vehicle body behind itsrear wheels and includes detent means for maintaining the spoiler-jackin its jacksimulating position and in its spoiler-simulating position.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to likeelements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of avehicle toy which is provided with a spoler-jack constituting apresently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toy shown in FIG. 1, but withthe spoiler-jack rotated 180 from its FIG. 1 position;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the vehicle toy of FIG. 1 showingthe spoiler-jack in an elevated position for simulating the spoiler on aracing vehicle; and

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 3, but showing thespoiler-jack rotated 180 to a vehiclesupporting position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawing,a spoiler-jack constituting a presently'preferred embodiment of theinvention, generally designated 10, is shown herein for purposes ofillustration, but not of limitation, in combination with a vehicle toy12 having a body 14, a pair of front wheels l6, l8 and a pair of rearwheels 20, 22.

Spoiler-jack 10 is swingably connected to vehicle toy 12 for elevatingat least a portion of the vehicle toy when spoiler-jack 10 is swung to afirst position (FIGS. 2 and 4). Spoiler-jack I0 is shaped to simulate aspoiler on a racing vehicle when spoiler-jack I0 is swung from theposition shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to a second position (FIGS. 1 and 3).

spoilerjack 10 includes a pair of arms 24, 26 each having a first end 28pivotally connected to vehicle body 14 behind rear wheels 20, 22 bysuitable pivot pins 30. Arms 24, 26 also have free ends 32 to which anairfoil 34 is affixed in a plane which is approximately normal to theplane of arms 24, 26. Airfoil 34 includes ends 36, 38 extend outwardlybeyond vehicle body 14 for simulating a well-known, racing-car-typespoiler when spoiler-jack 10 is swung 180 from a first position, asshown in FIG. 4, to a second position, as shown in FIG. 3, where airfoil34 is positioned above body 14. The simulation of a race-car-typespoiler may be enhanced by placing an airfoil plate 40 on each end 36,38 of airfoil 34.

Each arm 24, 26 carries a detent 42 (FIGS. 3 and 4) engageable with body14 for maintaining spoiler-jack 10 in its first and second positions.

While the particular spoiler-jack herein shown and described in detailis fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantageshereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the details of construction ordesign herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims whichform a part of this disclosure.

Whenever the term means is employed in these claims this term is to beinterpreted as defining the corresponding structure illustrated anddescribed in this specification or the equivalent of the same.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle toy, the improvement which comprises:

a spoiler-jack swingably connected to said vehicle toy for elevating atleast a portion of said vehicle toy when said spoiler-jack is swung to afirst position, said spoiler-jack being shaped to simulate a spoiler ona racing vehicle when said spoiler-jack is swung 180 to a secondposition, said spoiler-jack including a pair of arms, each of said armshaving a first end pivotally connected to said vehicle and a free end,said spoiler-jack also including airfoil means affixed to said free endsnormal to said arms for simulating a racingvehicletype spoiler when saidspoiler-jack is in said second position and for engaging avehicle-supporting surface when said spoiler-jack is in said firstposition.

2. An improvement as stated in claim I wherein said airfoil meansincludes a substantially horizontal airfoil having ends extending beyondsaid arms and vertical said rear wheels.

4. An improvement as stated in claim 3 including detent means formaintaining said spoiler-jack in said first and second positions.

1. In a vehicle toy, the improvement which comprises: a spoiler-jackswingably connected to said vehicle toy for elevating at least a portionof said vehicle toy when said spoiler-jack is swung to a first position,said spoiler-jack being shaped to simulate a spoiler on a racing vehiclewhen said spoiler-jack is swung 180* to a second position, saidspoiler-jack including a pair of arms, each of said arms having a firstend pivotally connected to said vehicle and a free end, saidspoiler-jack also including airfoil means affixed to said free endsnormal to said arms for simulating a racing-vehicletype spoiler whensaid spoiler-jack is in said second position and for engaging avehicle-supporting surface when said spoiler-jack is in said firstposition.
 2. An improvement as stated in claim 1 wherein said airfoilmeans includes a substantially horizontal airfoil having ends extendingbeyond said arms and vertical airfoil plates affixed to said ends ofsaid horizontal airfoil.
 3. An improvement as stated in claim 2 whereinsaid vehicle has a pair of rear wheels and wherein said spoiler-jack isswingably connected to said vehicle behind said rear wheels.
 4. Animprovement as stated in claim 3 including detent means for maintainingsaid spoiler-jack in said first and second positions.